Container closure



May 29, 1962 w. G. LIESCHKE CONTAINER cLosuRE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. ll. 1960 May 29, 1962 w. G. LlEscHKE CONTAINER CLOSURE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 11, 1960 INVENTOR. )f/7596,29 6.' Liese/:ke

6mm/awww- Aforne S Claims. (Cl. 229-66) This invention relates tocontainers and, more particularly, to flexible bags made of sheetmaterial such as organic pellicles of cellophane and like materialshaving the general characteristics of strength, flexibility and, whendesired, transparency.

IIt is an object of the invention to provide a container of the typementioned, embodying a closure which maintains the `container securelysealed and which is easily opened when access to the contents isdesired.

Another object is to provide a bag embodying a closure seam which can bereadily opened without tearing or cutting of the material thereof.

A still further object is to provide a container as aforesaid, whereinthe adhesively or heat-sealed sides forming the closure seam, start toseparate lat the bottom of the inside or inner edge, thereby obviatingthe danger of tearing the container material.

Yet another object is the provision of a bag of the type mentioned,wherein the possibility of spilling the contents while opening, isgreatly reduced.

Another object is to provide a seam in a container of the kindmentioned, which may be opened by a simple pull exerted between areas ofthe sides of the container at or just below the lower edge of the seam.

Still another object is to provide a seam for -a flexiblewalledcontainer, wherein the sealed sides forming the seam, are readilyseparated when desired, to afford access to the contents of thecontainer, and which has a selfclosing or snap-Shu action sufficientlypower-ful to maintain all or a portion of the contents without spilling,even when held in inverted position.

Another object is to provide a bag for edible products such as peanuts,candy and popcorn, and which is attractive in appearance, efficient inholding the contents confined substantially air tight, easily openedwithout tearing of the bag material, and useful until the entirecontents are dispensed, consumed or used.

A still further object is the provision of a container of the typementioned, wherein the closure seam, when partially opened, also affordsa pouring spout as in the case of pulverulent materials.

Another object is to provide a bag which affords an inexpensive, secure,easily-opened, -attractive and generally satisfactory container for awide range of pulverulent and granular materials and in a wide range ofbatch weights per bag.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art, after a study of the following detaileddescription in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE l is a perspective View showing the top seam of a bag embodyingthe features of the invention including a self-closing or snap-shutfeature and showing the sides of the bag pushed outwardly from thecenter line as by the contents above mentioned which are sealed in thebag;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken in a plane identied by line 2 2,FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the side folds of the bag ofFIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a view showing the manner in which a bag constructedaccording to FIGURE 1, opens from the lower edge of the seam in responseto a pull on its tabs;

3,036,755 Patented May 29, 1952 ffice FIGURE 5 is a section taken in aplane identified by line 5-5, FIGURE 4;

FIGURE -6 is a perspective view showing the self-closing or snap-shutaction of a previously opened bag;

FIGURE 7 shows a modification of the construction of FIGURE 1 and whichis particularly well adapted to bags of relatively large size;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective View corresponding to FIG- URE 7 and showinghow the seam is opened at one end to provide a pour spout;

Referring in detail to the drawing, 9, FIGURE l, identies generally acontainer or bag of thin, flexible thermoplastic material of whichrubber, cellophane and polyethylene are examples, which may betransparent, and sealed by adhesive preferably of pressure sensitivetype or by heat so as to be firmly closed. The blanks may be formed bycutting tubular stock into proper lengths, or by folding sections of atstock longitudinally and uniting the opposite edges.

The lower seam which is not shown in the drawings is formed by heatsealed lines in `a known manner, along closely-spaced parallel lines ofequal length extending longitudinally of the container to form afluid-tight seam. 'Ihe top seam 10 is likewise formed withclosely-spaced parallel heat-sealed lines extending downwardly from theedge thereof. Unlike the lower seam, however, alternate seal lines maybe of diierent lengths. That is to say, every other line may extend ashort but appreciable distance below the ends of the adjacent lines sothat when the sides of the bag are pinched just below the center portionof the seam, and pulled apart, the separation of the sealed areas startsalong the ends of longer lines and then extends to and along all of thelines to and through I the top edge of the seam. 'I'hus the sealed areasforming the seam are securely held against separation from the topdownwardly, but are readily separated when opening is initiated at thelower edge of the seam from within the bag.

Of course, the arrangement shown., wherein a shorter line is interspacedbetween two lines of greater length, is by way of example only and maybe varied in numerous ways without greatly affecting the advantageousfunction attained. For example, every third line only might be longer,or the lines may be progressively varied in length so that their lowerends dene a sinuous or zigzag line transversely across the bag tothereby facilitate initiation of opening of the seam from below andinside. Likewise the seam may be formed by uniting the confronting areasof the bag material forming the top seam, by means of an adhesive.

In prior art bags or containers of the type involved, it was diicult toeiect opening of the seam without tearing or cutting of the bagmaterial, and frequently resulted in exasperation and frustration on thepart of the individual trying to gain access to the contents.Furthermore, after opening in such a manner, the contents had to beconsumed or dispensed at once. Otherwise the remaining contents wouldfrequently ind their way into a pocket or handbag and have to belaboriously removed and discarded by turning the pocket inside out or byemptying of the handbag.

By my invention a clean tear-free opening of the seam is assured withthe result that the contents can be used, dispensed, consumed or eatenas desired.

Just below the seam 10, at the ends thereof, the material of the bag isfolded downwardly and inwardly along lines 12 and 13, from a commonpoint 11 on the side edge fold of the bag, to points 14 and 15,respectively, thence from points 14 and 15, downwardly and outwardly,along lines 16 and 17, to common point 18 also on the side edge fold.This creates two facing right-angled triangles having a commonhypotenuse 19.

In the species being described, the construction of folds justdescribed, is duplicated at the other end of the seam, that is, at theleft end as the parts are viewed upon FIG- URE 3. As shown upon FIGURES1, 2 and 3, folds or creases 20 and 21 in the respective sides of thebag, extend between points 11 and its counterpart 11a at the other sideedge. Likewise, as best shown upon FIGURE 1, a crease or fold 22 extendsbetween points 14 and 14a in one side surface, and another, 23, betweenpoints and 15a in the other side surface. FIGURES l and 3 show the seamand tabs distorted somewhat, to more clearly illustrate theconstruction. The cross section of FIGURE 2 shows the completed seambefore opening.

By this construction the sides of the bag immediately below the seam,are formed into, and define, a pair of tabs 24- and 25 which, whenpulled apart insure that the seam will start to open at its bottom edgeinside the bag. FIG- URE 1 indicates a lattice-work of heat seal lineswhich, in addition to rendering each tab a rigid unitary structure, alsoafford a friction grip to facilitate opening of the bag or container.While the confronting areas of the bag material forming these folds ortabs 24 and 25 are shown as secured together by heat seal lines, theymay be held together by adhesive. To facilitate packing and storing inminimum space the tabs 24 and 25 may be folded upwardly or downwardlyagainst the respective side surfaces.

In opening a bag constructed according to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the usersimply grasps the tabs 24 and 25 vand pulls them apart. FIGURES 4 and 5show a seam thus partly opened and illustrate how the sides of the bagbegin their separation at the lower central edge of the seam so that theopening progresses upwardly and outwardly to- Ward the top and ends. Inthis form of the invention the tabs possess a moderate but effectivedegree of stiffness and inherent resiliency which causes them to tend toresume their original coplanar state as depicted upon FIG- URE 6. Inthis position the folds and 21 are contiguous and parallel so that thetabs act automatically to reclose the opening as soon as the pull uponthem is released. They thus afford a snap-shut action which is veryeffective in holding material within the bag, even when it is held ininverted position. In bags of the size shown, the action is sufficientlystrong to keep articles such as peanuts from spilling when the bag isheld upside down. In containers of smaller sizes such as might be usedfor pills or lozenges, the action is even more powerful so that acellophane-type envelope securely maintains the contents against loss,spilling or contamination, until completely used.

FIGURES 7 and 8 show a modified form of container particularly useful inbags of larger sizes where a spout is often desirable for safe andaccurate dispensing of the material such as sugar, salt, or otherpulverulent or granular materials. In this form of the invention, bag 26has its top seam 27 formed by heat sealing or adhesively securing thetop inside surfaces together. However, unlike the species of FIGURES 1through 6, the tab-defining folds are formed `at one end only of theseam. Since the single fold is essentially like that described inconnection with FIGURE 1, etc., it is sufficient to identify folds 28,29, 36 and 31, defining a square area folded along its diagonaltransversely of the bag. Creases 32 and 33, instead of extending fullyacross the bag, terminate and merge into the material thereof at pointsless than half way to the other end of the seam. The tabs 34 and 35 thusformed may be grasped to open the seam over and along a relatively shortdistance from the corresponding end, to thereby form a pouring spout 36.This construction has the same self-closing or snap-shut action as thatpreviously described in connection with FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 and,moreover, affords the same ease and certainty of opening; and since theseam is opened starting at one end thereof, it may be only partly openedto form a convenient pour spout, or opened all the way across whererapid and complete dispensing of the material is required. In this form,when the seam is but partially opened, a powerful snapshut action isprovided which maintains the container closed and prevents contaminationof the contents remaining therein.

It will be understood, of course7 that the seam of the container shownat FIGURES 7 and 8 may be formed by the same heat seal lines as in thespecies previously described, and having alternate lines terminatingbelow the intermediate lines. Or the seam may be formed by adhesivelysecuring the sides together in such a manner that its lower edge is ofsinuous 0r zigzag shape. These lines of different lengths and thealternative sinuous, sawtooth or zigzag shape of the lower edge of theseam may extend all the way across the bag or, alternatively, only overa distance from one end coextensive with the pouring `opening 36, asindicated at 37, FIGURE 7.

I have thus provided a flexible-wall container which attains all of theobjects stated. A pull exerted between the tabs causes the seam to open,beginning at its lower edge. This opening is facilitated by thearrangement of seal lines having their lower ends defining an uneven orzigzag path. After opening, the high inherent strength and resiliency ofthe tabs and their resistance to deformation in their respective planes,causes them, when coplanar as in FIGURE 2, to hold the sides of theopened seam together and thus act very effectively to maintain thecontents of the bag against spilling and contamination. Likewise, thosecontents are readily accessible merely by pulling the tabs apart orexerting pressure against the two ends of the opened scam. This openingaction is aided by the automatic simultaneous turning of the tabsupwardly or downwardly about fold lines such as 20 and 21.

While I have disclosed the preferred form of the invention as now knownto me, various modifications and substitutions of equivalents will beobvious or readily occur to those skilled in the art after a study ofthe foregoing speeication. Hence the foregoing disclosure should betaken in an illustrative sense only; and it is my desire and intentionto reserve all modifications within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having now fully disclosed the invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A package comprising the packaged material enclosed in a tubularlength of flexible sheet material having one end flattened and formedinto a transverse seal area comprising confronting areas separablysealed together with a separable seal, and projecting rib meansextending transversely of said container parallel to, and adjacent, saidtransverse seal, each comprising a transverse fold of the material ofthe container extending outwardly at an angle to the side of the bag andhaving its confronting areas sealed in face to face relationship, saidribs forming pull tabs adapted to be pulled to exert a forcetransversely of said seal area for separating the seal thereof, andprojecting ribs tending to resiliently maintain said bag in closedposition after separation of said seal, to thereby retain the packagedmaterial enclosed in the package.

2. A package comprising the packaged material enclosed in a tubularlength of flexible sheet material having one end flattened and formedinto a transverse seal area comprising confronting areas separablysealed together with a separable seal, and projecting rib meansextending transversely of said container parallel to, and adjacent, saidtransverse seal, each comprising a transverse fold of the material ofthe container extending outwardly at an angle to the side of the bag andhaving its confronting areas sealed in face to face relationship, saidribs forming pull tabs adapted to be pulled to exert a forcetransversely of said seal area for separating the seal thereof, andprojecting ribs tending to resiliently maintain said bag in closedposition after separation of said seal to thereby retain the packagedmaterial enclosed in the package, the material of said container at theend of the seal area being outwardly creased to form the ends of theribs, and having an inward crease extending from the outer ends of theribs transversely of the bag to deiine two triangles having a commonhypotenuse lying transversely of, and below, the seal area, thetriangles being located at the lower ends of the seal area.

3. A package comprising the packaged material enclosed in a tubularlength of flexible sheet material having one end flattened and formedinto a transverse seal area comprising confronting areas separablysealed together with a separable seal, and projecting rib meansextending transversely of said container parallel to, and adjacent thelower edge of said transverse seal, each comprising a transverse fold ofthe material of the container extending outwardly at an angle to theside of the bag and having its confronting areas sealed in face to facerelationship, said ribs forming pull tabs adapted to be pulled to exerta force transversely of the inner portion of said seal area forseparating the seal thereof, and as projecting ribs tending toresiliently maintain said bag in closed position after separation ofsaid seal to thereby retain the packaged material enclosed in thepackage.

4. -A package comprising the packaged material enclosed in a tubularlength of flexible sheet material having one end attened and formed intoa transverse seal area comprising confronting areas separably sealedtogether with a separable seal and projecting rib means extendingtransversely of said container parallel to, and adjacent the lower edgeof said transverse seal, each comprising a transverse fold of thematerial of the container extending outwardly at an angle to the side ofthe bag and having its confronting areas sealed in face to facerelationship, said ribs forming pull tabs adapted to be pulled to exerta force transversely of the inner portions of said seal area forseparating the seal thereof, and as projecting ribs tending toresiliently maintain said bag in closed position after separation ofsaid seal to thereby retain the packaged material enclosed in thepackage, the material of said container at the end of the seal areabeing outwardly creased to form the ends of the ribs, and having aninward crease extending from the outer ends of the ribs transversely ofthe bag to define two triangles having a common hypotenuse lyingtransversely of, and below, the seal area7 the triangles being locatedat the lower ends of the seal area.

5. A package comprising the packaged material enclosed in a tubularlength of iiexible sheet material having a pair of at rectangular facesand having one end attened and formed into a transverse seal area with aseparable seal, comprising confronting areas separably sealed together,and projecting rib means extending transversely of said containerparallel to, and adjacent, said transverse seal, each comprising atransverse fold of the material `of the container extending outwardly atan angle to the side of the bag and having its confronting areas sealedin face to face relationship, said ribs forming pull tabs adapted to bepulled to exert a force transversely of said seal area for separatingthe seal thereof, and as projecting ribs tending to resilien'tlymaintain said bag in closed position after separation of said seal tothereby retain the packaged material enclosed in the package.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,603,207 Huston Oct. 12, 1926 2,189,174 Hohl Feb. 6, 1940 2,286,465AClement June 16, 1942 2,334,600 Boysen Nov. 16, 1943 2,635,742 Schwartzet al. Apr. 21, 1953 2,676,702 Whitefoot Apr. 27, 1954 2,754,865 MooreJuly 17, 1956 2,819,010 Amiguet Ian. 7, 1958 2,851,212 Parmer Sept. 9,

